Fuller accuses Griffin of being 'rude and disrespectful'

SOCCER:Ricardo Fuller has accused Andy Griffin of being "very rude and disrespectful" in the episode which led to the Stoke striker being sent off for slapping his team-mate in the defeat against West Ham.

Fuller also admits he is unsure about his future with the Potters after the red card which came about when the pair got involved in a heated exchange which descended into pushing and shoving following West Ham's equaliser in the 2-1 defeat at Upton Park on Sunday.

Fuller threw a slap at his captain and was sent off with the Hammers capitalising on their numerical advantage to claim a vital win with a late goal by Diego Tristan.

The Jamaica forward has pointed the finger at his team-mate but also admits his reaction outweighed the provocation.

He said: "I just said to Griff 'clear the ball out' and he was just very rude and disrespectful so that's what happened. It's all done and dusted now.

"What he said was bad but what I did was worse. And I'm going to be suspended now for three or four games.

"So I'm looking forward to the new year now, hopefully it will be a better one for me."

The 29-year-old will serve a statutory three-match ban for a red card issued for violent conduct because the English Football Association do not plan to take further action.

Yesterday, the club chairman Peter Coates assured Fuller of his future at the club but also expressed his disappointment at the player's actions, accusing him of being "unprofessional".

Fuller, though, admits the immediate future is uncertain. "It's up to the club," he continued. "I give my all for Stoke all the time, maybe I give too much, maybe that is why I am in this position now.

"I always try to do so much for Stoke City because I am a Stoke City player at the moment. That's what I care about: Stoke City, the team and myself — Stoke first.

"It's not a position I like to be in. I am so passionate and love to do football work and do football for Stoke City but it's up to the club."

Fuller also apologised, going on: "I feel really bad, especially I cost my team points on Saturday.

"But that's how it goes in football sometimes. You want to do so well and things happen.

"There is never smoke without fire really but it happened and that's all.

"I feel really sorry for the fans, especially, and for costing the team three points. These things happen and hopefully it doesn't happen again."